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Objective The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in host physiology, metabolism, immunity, and behavior. And host genetics could influence the gut microbiota of hybrid animals. The three-way cross model is commonly utilized in commercial pig production; however, the use of this model to analyse the gut microbial composition is rarely reported. Methods Two three-way hybrid pigs were selected, with Saba pigs as the starting maternal pig: Duroc× (Berkshire×Saba) (DBS) pig, Berkshire×(Duroc×Saba) (BDS) pig. One hundred pigs of each model were reared from 35 days (d) to 210 d. The body weight or feed consumption of all pigs were recorded and their feed/gain (F/G) ratio was calculated. On day 210, 10 pigs from each three-way cross were selected for slaughter, and cecal chyme samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results The final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) of DBS pigs were significantly higher than those of BDS pigs (p0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Prevotella, Roseburia, and Anaerovibrio in DBS pigs was significantly lower than in BDS pigs (p

Objective The Jeju native pig (JNP) found on the Jeju Island of Korea is a unique black pig known for high-quality meat. To investigate the genetic uniqueness of JNP, we analyzed the selection signature of the JNP in comparison to commercial pigs such as Berkshire and Yorkshire pigs. Methods We surveyed the genetic diversity to identify the genetic stability of the JNP, using the linkage disequilibrium method. A selective sweep of the JNP was performed to identify the selection signatures. To do so, the population differentiation measure, Weir-Cockerham’s Fst was utilized. This statistic directly measures the population differentiation at the variant level. Additionally, we investigated the gene ontologies (GOs) and genetic features. Results Compared to the Berkshire and Yorkshire pigs, the JNP had lower genetic diversity in terms of linkage disequilibrium decays. We summarized the selection signatures of the JNP as GO. In the JNP and Berkshire pigs, the most enriched GO terms were epithelium development and neuron-related. Considering the JNP and Yorkshire pigs, cellular response to oxygen-containing compound and generation of neurons were the most enriched GO. Conclusion The selection signatures of the JNP were identified through the population differentiation statistic. The genes with possible selection signatures are expected to play a role in JNP’s unique pork quality.

The electron transfer flavoprotein α subunit gene (ETFA) encodes a protein that forms part of the ETF enzyme. This enzyme is normally active in mitochondria, the energy-producing centres of cells, to donate electrons derived from fatty acid oxidation to ETF- ubiquinone oxidoreductase. In the present study, we identified a non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) (rs321948383, c.569G > A) in the porcine ETFA gene and analyzed the association between this nsSNP and meat quality traits in 405 Berkshire pigs. The pigs with rs321948383 G/G had a higher meat quality from the aspects of meat colour (L*, p = 0.013), water-holding capacity (p = 0.001), drip loss (p = 0.000), carcass temperatures (T1, p = 0.000; T4, p = 0.000; T12, p = 0.000; T24, p = 0.001), and pH24 (p = 0.014). Therefore, this nsSNP (c.569G > A) could play an important role in improving the meat quality of pigs.

【Objective】This paper aimed to carry out the hybrid breeding of Huoshou black pigs and Berkshire pigs and provide a data basis for further breed selection.【Method】Ba-Huo pigs were acquired by means of orthogonal experiments(Berkshire pig♂×Huoshou black pig♀), and then the serum biochemical indexes of 30, 60, 90, 180 and 300 day-old Huoshou black pigs(HS) and Ba-Huo pigs(BH) were measured using fully automatic biochemical analyser, respectively. The developmental differences of serum biochemical indexes between Huoshou black pigs and Ba-Huo pigs were compared and analyzed. 【Result】The content of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspertate aminotransferase(AST) in the serum of Huoshou black pig was extremely significant higher than that of Ba-Huo pig at 60, 180 and 300 days(P<0.01), the total protein(TP) was significantly higher than that of Ba-Huo pig at 30 days(P<0.05), and triglyceride(TG) level was significantly higher than that of Ba-Huo pig at 180 days(P<0.01), the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were significantly higher than that of Ba-Huo pig at 300 days(P<0.01). The serum contents of alkaline phosphatase(ALP), glucose(GLU) levels of Ba-Huo pigs at 30, 180, and 300 days were extremely significant higher than that of Huoshou black pigs(P<0.01), triglyceride(TG) levels of Ba-Huo pigs at 30, 90, 300 days were extremely significant higher than that of Huoshou black pigs(P<0.01), and total cholesterol(TC) contents were higher than that of Huoshou black pigs at 60, 180, 300 days(P<0.05). The albumin-globulin ratio(A/G) content of Huoshou black pig was higher than that of Ba-Huo pig at 30, 60 and 300 days(P<0.01), but lower than that of Ba-Huo pig at 90 and 180 days(P<0.01). The content of albumin(ALB), globulin(GLB) in serum of Huoshou black pigs were extremely significantly higher than that of Ba-Huo pigs at 90, 180 and 60, 300 days, respectively(P<0.01). 【Conclusion】The results indicated that serum ALT, AST and ALP indexes related to production traits, serum GLU, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C indexes related to fat deposition ability, and serum TP, ALB, GLB and A/G indexes related to the immune ability of Ba-Huo pigs and Huoshou black pigs were significantly different at different days. It was suggested that there might be some differences in growth performance, fat deposition and immunity indexes between Ba-Huo pigs and Huoshou black pigs during the growth and fattening period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electron transfer flavoprotein α subunit gene (ETFA) encodes a protein that forms part of the ETF enzyme. This enzyme is normally active in mitochondria, the energy-producing centres of cells, to donate electrons derived from fatty acid oxidation to ETF- ubiquinone oxidoreductase. In the present study, we identified a non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) (rs321948383, c.569G > A) in the porcine ETFA gene and analyzed the association between this nsSNP and meat quality traits in 405 Berkshire pigs. The pigs with rs321948383 G/G had a higher meat quality from the aspects of meat colour (L*, p = 0.013), water-holding capacity (p = 0.001), drip loss (p = 0.000), carcass temperatures (T1, p = 0.000; T4, p = 0.000; T12, p = 0.000; T24, p = 0.001), and pH24 (p = 0.014). Therefore, this nsSNP (c.569G > A) could play an important role in improving the meat quality of pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to find optimal traits for inclusion in selection criteria by estimating genetic parameters for direct genetic, maternal genetic, and common environmental effects for growth traits before 60 d of age and for the number of teats under an open breeding population, and to evaluate genetic relationships for traits at 60 d of age. Records of 2,344 male and 2,204 female purebred Berkshire pigs were analyzed. For BW at 14 d of age and for weaning weight, the heritabilities of a direct genetic effect were greater than those of a maternal genetic effect. This result is contrary to previous results showing a gradual decrease in the maternal genetic effect and an increase in the direct genetic effect up to weaning. The positive genetic correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects for BW at 14 d of age and weaning weight are clearly contrary to other reports. This phenomenon seems to be caused by creep feeding begun just after the birth of the piglets and maintained throughout the preweaning period in this Berkshire population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for growth and body composition traits at 60 d of age and at finish in a population of Berkshire pigs and to evaluate the effectiveness of selection at 60 d of age for meat productivity. A total of 4,548 purebred Berkshire (2,344 males and 2,204 females) pigs born between December 1994 and January 2005 were used in this study. The traits analyzed were BW at 60 d of age; daily BW gain from birth to finish, from weaning to 60 d, from weaning to finish, and from 60 d to finish; age at finish; backfat thickness at 60 d of age and at finish; loin eye area at 60 d of age (LEA6O) and at finish; and the number of teats. The heritability estimates. for BW at 60 d of age, daily BW gain from weaning to 60 d, backfat thickness at 60 d of age, and LEA6O were 0.22, 0.25, 0.49, and 0.22, respectively. The estimated common environmental effect for BW at 60 d of age, daily BW `gain from weaning to 60 d, backfat thickness at 60 d of age, and LEA6O were 0.12, 0.13, 0.18, and 0.21, respectively. Therefore, the common environmental effect should be included in the model to analyze traits at 60 d of age. The positive genetic correlation between LEA6O and loin eye area at finish and the negative genetic correlation between LEA6O and backfat thickness at finish indicated that improvement of the ultrasonic loin eye area at 60 d of age may result in favorable correlated responses to the traits at finish, an increase in loin eye area, and a decrease in backfat thickness. In addition, genetic correlations of backfat thickness at 60 d of age with backfat thickness at finish and loin eye area at finish were found to be favorable, indicating that improvement of ultrasonic backfat thickness at 60 d of age may result in greater correlated responses to the traits at finish: an increase in loin eye area and a decrease in backfat thickness. Therefore, constructing a selection scheme that includes body composition traits at 60 d and traits at finish is practical for gaining a greater selection response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bromodomain-containing protein 2 (BRD2) is a nuclear serine/threonine kinase involved in transcriptional regulation. We investigated the expression and association of the BRD2 gene as a candidate gene for meat quality traits in Berkshire pigs. BRD2 mRNA was expressed at relatively high levels in muscle tissue. Statistical analysis revealed that the c.1709G>C polymorphism of the BRD2 gene was significantly associated with carcass weight, meat color (a*, redness), protein content, cooking loss, water-holding capacity, carcass temperatures 4, 12 and 24 h postmortem, and the 24 h postmortem pH in 384 Berkshire pigs. Therefore, this polymorphism in the porcine BRD2 gene may be used as a candidate genetic marker to improve meat quality traits in pigs.